I Rode London

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Yes folks . I took my bike from deepest darkest Worcestershire on the train to Paddington and rode through the mean streets to Roehampton and back again too yesterday .

So what was my impression?

1) It's busy.
2) Traffic lights and jam ups reduce average speed by up to a factor of two.
3) Not knowing the best routes may be a problem.
4) Some bits of my route were quite quiet.
5) It is easy to find oneself in the wrong lane.
6) I got lost in Barnes (bike paths).
7) Drivers were courteous and considerate and bike aware.
8) There are green bits in London.

I still prefer my lanes in Worcestershire and Herefordshire but getting around by bike in London isn't too silly

Would you ride London?

 

[DiddlyDodds]

Would you ride London?

Very true ,, but I suppose if you have the misfortune of living there then I suppose you have to.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Very true ,, but I suppose if you have the misfortune of living there then I suppose you have to.

Well obviously - I'm just wondering if folks who haven't tried would consider it and maybe seeking comments from hardened Londoners.

 

[Lanzecki]

I used to ride around it for fun occasionally, I'd get the train up and spend the day seeing the sites. That was in the early 90's when I was young and invincible.

I'd happily still go and ride around London.

 

[AnythingButVanilla]

I ride London quite often and it's fine. I found it scarier when I was taking driving lessons around Putnet and Barnes but that was mostly down to Saturday afternoon traffic bloody cyclists

 

[martint235]

I find cycling in London to be easier than cycling in other areas where the traffic levels are lower. Drivers in London are generally used to seeing bikes around the place and can, as a rule, behave appropriately. You do get nutters though. However having taken my bike over quite a lot of the south east and up North, I find drivers are more likely to ignore (or not see a cyclist) more often out in the country.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I used to ride around it for fun occasionally, I'd get the train up and spend the day seeing the sites. That was in the early 90's when I was young and invincible.

I'd happily still go and ride around London.

Well - I'm a pensioner and very vincible. The idea of riding round to see the sights sounds interesting. What day of the week is best for that?

 

[goody]

London is probably the best city in the world, ride over Tower Bridge at night and tell me I'm wrong. The roads may be busy and the cycle lanes crap but it's all part of it I suppose. So many good places to ride on the doorstep as well, Herne Hill Velodrome, Richmond Park, Surrey Hills, runs to the coast if only the weather was good all year round!

 

[goody]

Well - I'm a pensioner and very vincible. The idea of riding round to see the sights sounds interesting. What day of the week is best for that?

The roads are generally quieter during school holidays. I used to be a m/cycle courier and during the summer holidays it was dead wasn't worth going in most days because so many people go on holiday.

 

[Beebo]

.
3) Not knowing the best routes may be a problem.

5) It is easy to find oneself in the wrong lane.

London is fine as long as you know the route well and can plan where you're going. Its the same if you cycle or drive.

 

[Maz]

I'm in London on Saturday. Can I get a Boris Bike from St. Pancras to Baker St?
How far is that? Is there a bike parking place at Baker St? Thanks in advance.
Maz

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I'm in London on Saturday. Can I get a Boris Bike from St. Pancras to Baker St?
How far is that? Is there a bike parking place at Baker St? Thanks in advance.
Maz

I think there is a map of docking stations on the TfL website http://www.tfl.gov.uk/

 

[srw]

St Pancras to Baker Street is about 10 minutes straight down the Euston/Marylebone Road, or a bit longer (and nicer) if you divert via Regent's Park. There should be adequate availability of bikes and spaces in both places.

 

[Lanzecki]

Well - I'm a pensioner and very vincible. The idea of riding round to see the sights sounds interesting. What day of the week is best for that?

Any weekday on a school Holiday. Maybe not Monday Morning or Friday afternoon. Them's the quietest days by far. Well they used to be. No reason why they shouldn't be now.

There are loads of roads, and lane ways in London that are quiet. It's just the main roads and rat runs that are busy. You can cycle around parts of the city and only see people walking.

Ya can get around without using the main roads if you have an idea of where you want to go.

I used to work in London fixing computers, I'd park the van in a carpark, finish a job and get back to the van to find the next job, only to find that it was often quicker to leave the van where it was and walk. London (the tourist places and the city) are not very big at all. It's a good option to walk/cycle as it's often quicker.

 

[Beebo]

I'm in London on Saturday. Can I get a Boris Bike from St. Pancras to Baker St?
How far is that? Is there a bike parking place at Baker St? Thanks in advance.
Maz

You can, it's only about a mile. Straight along the euston road.
It will cost you £2 for 30mins.

edit - crossed with srw!